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Microsoft's next big Windows 11 update is within reach. The new version of the desktop operating system, Windows 11 version 26H2, has now moved to its final testing stage.
The latest software update arrives with a handful of useful tweaks to add personalisation to everyday tasks. You can also expect a redesigned menu in File Explorer, a refreshed magnifier tool, new emojis, and more.
The update has landed in the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, where you can get early access to test the new additions. It's essentially the last stop before it rolls out to everyone, as long as no other issues are found at this stage. Here's what you can expect in this release.
First up, File Explorer — where you can look for your saved documents — is receiving a redesigned right-click menu that reduces clutter while keeping commonly used actions easy to find.
In a blog post about the roll-out, Microsoft confirmed: "We’re excited to announce an updated context menu that delivers a faster, simpler, and more customizable experience. The new design reduces top-level clutter, keeps commonly used actions easy to access, and introduces a new Settings experience that gives you more control over what appears in the menu."
The new right-click menu is designed to be much, much less cluttered. Common tasks like Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Share, and Delete are now listed horizontally as tile-like shortcuts at the top of the right-click menu, trimming the length of the window needed to display all of the options.
Other tasks are now hidden in sub-menus, like App Extensions, which includes any tasks linked to a particular Windows 11 app. This includes Copilot, Clipchamp, Notepad, Paint, OneDrive, and Photos.
Microsoft is making the right-click menu entirely customisable. Don't like the new design? You can decide exactly what's featured in the menu, switching off on or off individual actions, like Send To, Print, Create Shortcut, Copy As Path, or Rotate Image. You can choose which actions appear in the App Extensions submenu, live in the main menu, or vanish from the right-click menu altogether.
And if you want to U-turn on your changes, Microsoft says you can change it. In the blog, Microsoft summarises: "We know many people have years of muscle memory from the Windows 10 menu, so we’ve added options to bring that feel back.
"You can list the main commands (Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share) inline directly in the menu instead of as a row of icons, and you can move Properties down to the very bottom."
Emoji 17.0 is also coming to Windows, adding new characters including a distorted face, fight cloud, whale, and more. You can access the new emojis by pressing the Windows key + Period (.) to open the emoji panel.
Microsoft is also making small design tweaks to existing emojis, including the saluting face, face with peeking eye, goose, lotus, and a kissing cat.
The Get Started app is getting a more useful makeover, with new pages designed to help you get more from your Windows PC. Instead of offering a basic introduction to the operating system, the updated experience can highlight ways to personalise your device and discover features that you may not have tried before.
Depending on your device, you could see dedicated pages suggesting apps to install, showing you how to pin your favourite websites for quicker access, or helping you choose a personalised Windows theme. The pages you see may vary depending on your device and setup, and you can exit the experience at any point before returning to it later through the Get Started app.
Magnifier — used to make things easier to see on screen — is also receiving a visual refresh, bringing its toolbar more in line with the wider Windows 11 design. Microsoft has updated the icons so they look cleaner and more consistent with other parts of the operating system, while adjustments to the spacing and padding give the toolbar a more polished layout.
Your existing views, zoom controls, and keyboard shortcuts will continue to work as before, while features such as Read Aloud remain unchanged. This means users who rely on Magnifier should get a more modern-looking interface without having to learn a new way of using it.
Microsoft's Camera Roll Backup is becoming easier to set up, with new options added to the Settings > Home and Accounts pages. The feature automatically backs up photos and videos from your phone to OneDrive, helping keep your memories safe and accessible across devices, taking out the manual work.
The update arrives via what's called an enablement package, meaning your device only needs a single restart to get up and running. "This means your device will be updated to the next version through a single restart, providing a familiar, fast, and reliable update experience," Microsoft confirmed.
However, you will need to make sure your PC is already updated to Windows 11.
If you missed the memo, the US tech firm pulled the plug on its immensely popular Windows 10 operating system late last year, marking the end of a decade of support.
For those who haven't taken action to update their devices, you're leaving yourself vulnerable to an increased risk of malware, ransomware, cyberattacks, and worse. That's because, without regular security updates and bug fixes from Microsoft, there's nothing to stop criminals from exploiting vulnerabilities unearthed within the operating system.
If you're looking to ensure you get vital security updates, Microsoft has quietly given Windows 10 users a welcome lifeline, stretching its Extended Security Update (ESU) programme by an extra year. The new deadline is now October 12, 2027, rather than the original October 2026 cutoff.
However, this won't give you access to system updates and new features as mentioned above.
